Assembling evidence for identifying reservoirs of infection

Viana, M. , Mancy, R., Biek, R. , Cleaveland, S. , Cross, P. C., Lloyd-Smith, J. O. and Haydon, D. T. (2014) Assembling evidence for identifying reservoirs of infection. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 29(5), pp. 270-279. (doi:10.1016/j.tree.2014.03.002) (PMID:24726345) (PMCID:PMC4007595)

Abstract

Many pathogens persist in multihost systems, making the identification of infection reservoirs crucial for devising effective interventions. Here, we present a conceptual framework for classifying patterns of incidence and prevalence, and review recent scientific advances that allow us to study and manage reservoirs simultaneously. We argue that interventions can have a crucial role in enriching our mechanistic understanding of how reservoirs function and should be embedded as quasi-experimental studies in adaptive management frameworks. Single approaches to the study of reservoirs are unlikely to generate conclusive insights whereas the formal integration of data and methodologies, involving interventions, pathogen genetics, and contemporary surveillance techniques, promises to open up new opportunities to advance understanding of complex multihost systems.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Haydon, Professor Daniel and Cleaveland, Professor Sarah and Viana, Dr Mafalda and Mancy, Dr Rebecca and Biek, Dr Roman
• Authors: Viana, M., Mancy, R., Biek, R., Cleaveland, S., Cross, P. C., Lloyd-Smith, J. O., and Haydon, D. T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Interdisciplinary Science Education Technologies and Learning
• Journal Name: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0169-5347
• ISSN (Online): 1872-8383
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution 29(5)@270-279
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
51881	1	Towards the strategic control of foot-and-mouth disease in Africa: new techniques for a neglected problem	Sarah Cleaveland	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/H009302/1	RI BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH & COMPMED
56822	1	Impact, ecology and social determinants of bacterial zoonoses in northern Tanzania	Sarah Cleaveland	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/J010367/1	RI BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH & COMPMED